Scalise was elected majority whip Thursday. He’s joining his party’s leadership team following last week’s unexpected defeat of House Majority Leader Eric Cantor in a Virginia primary election.

The 48-year-old Scalise has been in the House since 2008 and leads a group of House conservatives. In his whip campaign, he touted his conservative credentials and noted that he’d be the only GOP leader from the South. The heart of his party’s strength in the House lies in that region.

Scalise defeated Illinois Rep. Peter Roskam, who has been chief deputy whip, and Indiana Rep. Marlin Stutzman, who has had tea party support.